Colchester

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Situated a five-minute stroll from the affluent, medieval village of Nayland, this charming cottage has a fabulous location in Dedham Vale, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border. You'll find a glorious riverside pub, shops and plenty of walks along the River Stour – it's perfect for birdwatchers. Flatford and its mill, immortalised in the paintings of John Constable, is twenty minutes in the car. This place is just under a two-hour drive from London, too. 

Surrounded by mature trees, the enclosed rear garden captures the afternoon and early evening sun, so it's ideal for an alfresco lunch or dinner, while the front garden gets the rays all day. Inside, there's a log burner for when it's chilly. We love the master bedroom, named the Hay Wain, with its views over the village. This completely renovated home is a great country retreat for two couples or a family.




The Hay Wain

This majestic house is surrounded by an immaculate garden and private woodland. With its stately grandeur and Georgian architecture, it's a true one-off. Inside, opulent furnishings nod to the history of this estate and provide luxurious comfort. There's even a house manager and team on hand to prepare the home to suit your occasion. The surrounding coastline and local countryside provide ample opportunity for beautiful scenic walks and outdoor pursuits. 

Sense & Sensibility

Surrounded by over 500 acres of woodland, lakes and ponds, this Grade II-listed farmhouse makes a big impression. Rooms are spacious and comfortably modern, though taller guests might want to watch their heads on some of the sloping ceilings. The manicured garden stretches around the outdoor seating, making it easy for parents to supervise kids playing on the lawn whilst they enjoy a sunset drink. There's also a tennis court, gym, squash court, play set, and table tennis to keep everyone busy, but the lake is our favourite. With a jetty and small rowing boat, you can get out on the water whenever you need a peaceful moment. 

Suffolk's Delight

This penthouse apartment just steps from the Ipswich Waterfront and Neptune Marina is the definition of living the high life. 
Decked out in chic contemporary furnishings, the open-plan living area is a treat for socialising and soaking up the incredible floor-to-ceiling views over the marina and the River Orwell. While the plump sectional sofa puts you in a prime position to feast on the wide-sweeping vistas, we suggest stepping out on the wraparound balcony for a real wow-worthy treat. Whether you’re starting mornings here with an alfresco breakfast or enjoying a glass of wine at sunset, you’ll never tire of taking in the beauty of the home’s living backdrop. 
Both bedrooms, too, offer stunning views over the city and its marina and beckon a peaceful night’s sleep under their luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets.
With a plethora of fabulous extras – like the welcome hamper packed with locally produced pastries and treats, as well as the environmentally-friendly toiletries – you’ll be on cloud nine in this dazzling penthouse pad.
Outside of your home, you’ve got plenty of restaurants, bars and shops to explore along the waterfront (a one-minute walk away), while the Ipswich Museum is fifteen minutes away on foot. Alternatively, hop in your car for a day of sun and sand with Felixstowe Beach a twenty-minute drive away. 


Neptune's Sky

Style meets comfort in this wonderfully located apartment in Margate. Designed in a chic, boutique-style manner, the whole space feels brilliantly modern while retaining a sense of vintage charm that so aptly reflects Margate’s seaside fame. We love the bright living room with its large windows that provide the most spectacular sunset views across the Winter Gardens and out towards the sea, best enjoyed on the sofa with a glass of wine or through the handy telescope provided. Full of fun decorative details that subtly nod to the coast, this space is made for relaxation and easy-going socialising. Our other favourite spot for sea-sighting is in the beautiful master bedroom where an armchair invites you to curl up on it with a good book and enjoy the rolling of the waves from yet another angle. Factor in the sunny kitchen and the sparkling blue and white bathroom and you’ve got everything you need for a blissful coastal break. Outside of your home, you’re just a six-minute walk from the Turner Contemporary art gallery, an eight-minute stroll from the Main Sands beach, while the Dreamland Margate amusement park is fifteen minutes on foot from your door. 


Atlas Sands

Standing on the grounds of a classic Victorian vicarage, this converted 19th-century coach house enjoys its own outside space and brightly-lit interiors. Effortlessly blending original and modern design, the rural retreat is ideal for a group of friends or family looking to get away from it all.

Recline on the colourful seating when you arrive in the living room and admire the rustic details – exposed brick and wooden beams feature alongside a contemporary colour palette and eye-catching wall art. If you're too energised to relax, challenge your fellow guests to a pool or foosball tournament in the games room. At the end of the day, come together for a nourishing meal cooked up in the grand country kitchen.

Keen to see the sea? The Suffolk coastline is just over half an hour away – spend an afternoon in Ipswich and visit the charming selection of shops and galleries, some of which are housed in beautiful Victorian buildings.

Country Coach House

Dating back to 1250, this idyllic cottage has bags of charm. It’s in the town of Hadleigh, so shops, restaurants and cafés are just a short walk away, along with cycleways across the countryside and a meandering riverside walk. 

Hide away from the world in a timber-clad bolthole where Tudor windows let in plenty of sunlight during the day. By night, it’s time to get a fire crackling in the fireplace and snuggle up with a glass of wine on the sofa. Antique, rustic furniture has been hand-selected to keep the medieval feel to the cottage, including cast-iron pans suspended from the wooden beam in the kitchen. Heading up the narrow staircase to bed, you’ll find a sound sleep beneath the old roof beams. 

Tudor Romance

This one-of-a-kind barn conversion definitely has the wow factor. With an ancient shell, but an interior straight out of a contemporary design magazine, it’s no wonder it was featured in the Times’ Best Holiday Houses for Groups in Britain in 2018. The heart of the home is the enormous open-plan living area, with its soaring ceilings and wall of glass. We can imagine some really special meals here. There are six bedrooms, most of which have splendid views over rolling fields, and the hot tub in the lower ground bedroom is a real touch. Pour a glass of something cold and relax on the patio while the younger guests run wild in the large garden (just over an acre) or a stroll into the village. Chelsworth is basically an open-air history museum, with wattle and daub houses that are mostly unchanged since the 17th Century, and a country pub for that delicious post-walk pint.

The Old Barn

With farmland to the front and the owner’s beautiful private nature reserve behind – this gorgeous home, part of a cluster of mill buildings, is in an idyllic spot. 

Take a stroll through winding footpaths of the reserve that meander through meadows and forests of giant cedars and ancient oaks. In spring, you’ll see enchanting carpets of bluebells, primroses and daffodils, but whatever time of year you come, you’ll be treated to an array of wildlife, from chaffinches to woodpeckers. There are maps to find the footpaths going onwards to Snape Maltings, just over two miles away, and to the sea at Aldeburgh (or it’s seven minutes in the car). You can borrow some bikes too if you prefer to cycle.

You don’t have to go anywhere to get some fresh air, though. There’s a lovely old cobbled, sunny courtyard where clematis and wisteria clamber up the walls – it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the welcome hamper of breakfast goodies. There’s another patio area, too, with fragrant rambling roses – ideal for a glass of wine.

The home itself is a sympathetic conversion of a stable and grain store. We adore the character features inside, such as the traditional 17th Century Suffolk white brick flooring, wood-panelled walls and old oak floorboards. Part of the original manger has been incorporated into the wall dividing the kitchen and the living space area – a lovely touch. Open the stable doors here and listen to the blackbirds singing at dusk. Furnished with antiques, this cottage will appeal to couples and pet owners looking for a luxurious country bolthole.


Blackbirds Singing At Dusk

A rural retreat with an almost embarrassing amount of charm, this thatched home dates back centuries and represents the best of Norfolk's architectural style. Carefully modernised and curated with stylish wall colours, art and a mix of antique and contemporary furniture, it's a fabulous space to unwind in unique surroundings. As well as a stunning historic home, it boasts a large, enclosed garden and a summer house to die for.  

Inside, the stripped-back, authentic character of this place is evident in the ancient beams, brick floors and inglenook fireplace. A comfy velvet sofa provides a modern twist but otherwise, the living room is dressed like it would have been a hundred years ago or so. Elsewhere there's a delightful country kitchen, a casual dining room and a midnight-blue TV room, along with a useful utility room and three gorgeous bedrooms.

And outside you'll find pretty gardens, along with a greenhouse and a deck for enjoying the sun. Step inside the summer house for the biggest surprise though. A lovely space for friends and family to socialise and eat together, it comes with a Scandinavian-style indoor barbecue cabin. 

Around half an hour's drive from both Diss and Norwich, you'll be deep in the country here so a car is essential, but there are great walks to be had nearby and the coast is around forty-five minutes away. Visit Southwold, Lowestoft and more for days out by the sea.



Reedgrass & Tallow

The picturesque village of Southwold sits on The Suffolk Coast and Heaths, one of only forty-six regions in the country officially labelled an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. We think the best way to discover this exceptionally beautiful landscape, is to stay in an exceptionally beautiful home. On a street of candy-colored cottages, an eight-minute walk from Southwold Pier, your home is painted in a dreamy pale blue, with terracotta roof tiles, and a cute white door beckoning you inside. Built in 1850, you’ll love the original features like exposed wooden beams, a winding staircase, and wood-burning fireplace in the lounge. We think this is the perfect spot to settle down on the sofa, crack open a bottle of fizz, and say cheers to the start of your holiday. Another option would be sipping champagne in the luxurious freestanding tub, or taking celebrations out to your private patio on a sunny afternoon. When you get peckish, take a wander to your nearest chippie, three minutes away. Protect your portion of fish and chips from the seagulls as you stroll one minute down to the promenade and take in the fresh air from the North Sea.

Pale Blue Gull

Nestled in the tiny village of Kersey, this magnificent timber-framed house has been lovingly restored to its former glory, allowing you to experience the authentic Suffolk countryside. Inside you'll find a roaring log burner, beautiful beamed rooms, and original features that give this home a cosy atmosphere and an air of rustic charm. 

Start your days with a home-cooked breakfast made in the classic country kitchen, then take one of the bikes from the shed and head off to explore the pretty lanes around the village. Boasting close proximity to the unspoiled Suffolk countryside, there are plenty of walks to enjoy with the dogs, as well as an array of quaint villages, such as the famous Lavenham, which is known as England’s best preserved Medieval Village. Ruggedly rural and untouched by city life, this is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle and connect with nature for a few days. 

When you get home, head to the private garden to fire up the barbecue and tuck into an alfresco family dinner. You'll find an apple tree on the lawn, which provides some natural shade in the summer. Post-dinner, run yourself a bubble bath and relax with a glass of wine, then head downstairs to snuggle up by the fire. 

The Old Apple Tree

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Book a stay in one of the best homes in Colchester.

We selected the 1938 homes worth renting in this location

Who's coming along?

Home spotlights in Colchester

THE HAY
WAIN

SENSE &
SENSIBILITY

SUFFOLK'S
DELIGHT

We've selected the top 3% homes in Colchester.

Most popular homes in Colchester.

Neptune's
Sky

Atlas
Sands

Country Coach
House

Tudor
Romance

The Old
Barn

Blackbirds Singing
At Dusk

Reedgrass &
Tallow

Pale Blue
Gull

Neptune's
Sky

Atlas
Sands

Country Coach
House

Tudor
Romance

The Old
Barn

Blackbirds Singing
At Dusk

Reedgrass &
Tallow

Pale Blue
Gull

The Old
Apple Tree

Check rates and availability for Colchester.

Book with Plum Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Book a stay in one of the best homes in Colchester.

We selected the 1938 homes worth renting in this location

Home spotlights in Colchester

THE HAYWAIN

SENSE &SENSIBILITY

SUFFOLK'SDELIGHT

We've selected the top 3% homes in Colchester.

Most popular homes in Colchester.

Neptune'sSky

AtlasSands

Country CoachHouse

TudorRomance

The OldBarn

Blackbirds SingingAt Dusk

Reedgrass &Tallow

Pale BlueGull

Neptune'sSky

AtlasSands

Country CoachHouse

TudorRomance

The OldBarn

Blackbirds SingingAt Dusk

Reedgrass &Tallow

Pale BlueGull

The OldApple Tree

Check rates and availability for Colchester.

Book with Plum Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the best in Colchester?

THE HAY
WAIN

SENSE &
SENSIBILITY

SUFFOLK'S
DELIGHT

Neptune's
Sky

Atlas
Sands

Country Coach
House

Tudor
Romance

The Old
Barn

Blackbirds Singing
At Dusk

Reedgrass &
Tallow

Pale Blue
Gull

Neptune's
Sky

Atlas
Sands

Country Coach
House

Tudor
Romance

The Old
Barn

Blackbirds Singing
At Dusk

Reedgrass &
Tallow

Pale Blue
Gull

The Old
Apple Tree